As the title.... hoping my spoke wraps are coming in the post today, and i can then spend more quality time in the garage fitting them to the bike. Will post pictures when i get them, and updates as i go.
OK, so the spoke wraps arrived.... and are now fitted.... but i am really unsure if i should leave them on or bin them, as ATM i don't know if i like them or if they look really rubbish? your thoughts? before during after rear after
It's all personal preference. To me spoke wraps are one step short of clipping playing cards to your forks to make a clackety-clack sound as you ride (i.e. It's reminiscent of what kids do to their bicycle wheels.) Not at all trying to be a wise-a*s though- again it's about what appeals to you so go with your gut.
yeah, the trouble is my gut says to take them off, my wallet says they just cost money, so i should at least give them a go.
Sorry but my vote to circular file them. The black isn't too bad though, and will prevent the inevitable forward facing erosion that all spokes suffer over time.
I like them on SM bikes like yours but would go all black. need to see a picture of the whole bike to get a feel for it.
I tried them, on the warp 9 the dam spokes are so big and heavy duty I couldn't even get the spoke wraps on. Where the spokes cross I couldn't separate them enough to get them to fit, big gaps where spokes cross. My buddy sells them at bykas.com and I think they look good on any bikes.
Been there done that, your spokes will rust very quickly, also they collect brake dust grime etc and it will never come off. I did white on mine and they looked like hammered butthole in about 3 weeks. I say they gotta go!
OK, so i have left them on for a bit now, and have found that the front spokes are so close to the brake caliper, that a couple of the outside spokes now hit it, and have almost cut the wraps in half. Looking around at other ideas, i have settled for a set of Alpina red and black wheels, with black spokes, and red hubs. Money.... but worth it for the real thing. Just need to save a little first.
There's always one. Just because i like my bike to be clean doesn't mean i want something that wont go round corners.
Get the marchi's. Atleast you are getting something for your money vs alpinas are just for looks! If im dropping 2k+ on some wheels they better not look like carbon fiber wrapped stock wheels :P
In 2009 I bought an Italian magazine which included a report about Mauno Hermunen's SM 450RR tear down. He had OEM hubs and Alpina rims. Look here on page 97-99 and here on page 91-95: the hubs have the same codes! You have the same hubs! I don't think that replacing those hubs could give noticeable benefits, unless you buy 16.5"-5" complete wheels for the track and keep your OEM ones for the Street.
could always go for a stock wheel strip down, and get them sprayed red/black, and buy new black spokes for the standard rims? Anyone know where i could get black spokes from??
That was my hunch. I've found whenever I add stuff it becomes one more thing to rust, break, need cleaning, get caught in something, or otherwise go wrong, sucking time away. Farkling is great - and oh those sweet corners! Husky's love to be ridden. Where are you taking your SM? Time for a trip report!
